When playing the game of Blackjack, players have a number of wagering options to choose from. You can choose to hit to receive additional cards or stand if you’re content with your hand value. Then there’s the option to surrender, split and double down.
In Blackjack games, doubling down offers an exciting way to boost your potential winnings, given that you get it right. But what exactly can you expect from the doubling down option? And when you should and shouldn’t use it? Keep reading to find out.
What is doubling down in Blackjack?
Doubling down is a Blackjack wagering option that allows players to get one additional card by placing a wager that’s double their original stake amount. After receiving the extra card after doubling down, the player’s turn for that round gets over.
As a player, you can opt to double down after receiving your initial two cards. In most Blackjack games, players aren’t allowed to double down if they get a natural Blackjack or have placed the insurance side wager. But many Blackjack tables allow you to double down even if you’ve opted to go with the Blackjack split option. Again, remember that you only have the option to double down once in every Blackjack round.
When you should double down in Blackjack?
When playing Blackjack at a land-based venue or at our online casino UK, there are certain hands that can go well with the doubling down option. Below we’ve listed some situations where you might consider doubling down:
When your point total is 11
Players opting to use the double down option usually do it when the point total of their hand is 11. This is because, at this point, there’s a good chance of getting the perfect total score of 21. And even if they don’t, they’ll likely be closer to 21.
When you’ve got a hard 9 or 10
As per the online Blackjack rules, a hard hand is one that doesn’t have any Ace involved. Given that the dealer is showing a lower face-up card, you have a good chance of having a better point total than the dealer. Just remember that things won’t always work out as you expect them when you opt to double down.
When you have a soft 16, 17 or 18
A soft hand is a Blackjack hand that consists of an Ace and some other card. If you’ve got a soft 16, 17 or 18 and the value of the dealer’s up-card is less than 6, it’s a good time to double down. Note that if you’ve got an Ace and a lower-valued card between 2 and 4, you should refrain from doubling down as you’re less likely to have a high hand.
When you shouldn’t double down in Blackjack?
Doubling down can be a thrilling move to make when you play Blackjack online. But there are some instances when you should abstain from doubling down and instead go with other wagering options like Blackjack surrender. Times when you shouldn’t double down are:
When the dealer is showing an Ace
The Ace card can be counted as either 1 or 11 in Blackjack games. And this makes it a powerful card to have during a Blackjack round. You should never double down when the dealer’s face-up card is showing an Ace, as their chances of getting Blackjack or having a good point are quite high.
If you’ve got a hard hand that’s higher than 11
Another instance when you should avoid doubling down is when you’ve got a hard hand whose point value is higher than 11. This is because the chances of going bust increase dramatically once the point total exceeds 11. And you’ll lose an amount that’s twice your initial stake if you opt to double down and go bust.
Blackjack doubling down: A quick summary
Doubling down is an interesting move to make in both online and live Blackjack games. It adds an extra bit of thrill to your Blackjack gameplay rounds and offers a decent payout of 2:1 in potential winnings.
As a Blackjack player, just make sure you don’t fall for Blackjack myths surrounding doubling down, card counting and other aspects of Blackjack. Have a responsible and entertaining Blackjack experience there!